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Giannis Antetokounmpo: 'I want to run through the wall, and make things work'

Before NBA training camp opened, rumors about Giannis Antetokounmpo pushing the Bucks to have trade talks with the Knicks were everywhere. That's when, at media day, Antetokounmpo tried to quash all that saying he was all in on this team now, and in six or seven months maybe he would change his mind.

Then the Bucks stumbled out of the gate, and this week the rumor mill cranked up into high gear this week when a report came out that Antetokounmpo and his agent would meet with the Milwaukee front office to discuss his future with the franchise. Antetokounmpo hasn't spoken to the media since all this started (he is currently out 2-4 weeks with a calf strain), but he did talk with NBA insider Chris Haynes, who discussed that conversation on Amazon Prime's NBA coverage Friday, with Antetokounmpo reportedly echoing what he said before the season started.

"I want to run through the wall and make things work." As a reminder, here is what Antetokounmpo said at media day that was along the same lines:

"I've said this many times, I want to be in a situation that I can win and now I'm here. I believe in this team. I believe in my teammates. I'm here to lead this team to wherever we can go and it's definitely going to be hard. We're going to take it day by day, but I'm here. So, all the other extra stuff does not matter... Now, if in six, seven months, I change my mind, I think that's human too, you're allowed to make any decision you want, but I'm locked in. I'm locked in to this team. I'm locked in to these guys, to this group and to this coaching staff and to myself."

There should be no doubt that Antetokounmpo wants to make things work in Milwaukee and that he will make every effort to do so. He is not going to be a disruptive force. It's also possible to play hard and try to make things work while understanding the bigger picture about the Bucks' competitiveness and what that might mean in the long term.

Milwaukee is only going to trade Antetokounmpo if he pushes for it — it's the only reason for the conversations with New York in August (after the Knicks had extended Mikal Bridges and couldn't really make a decent trade offer). There are a lot of questions that flow if and when that request is made — starting with if the Bucks would help get Antetokounmpo to his preferred destination, or if they are taking the offer on the table that's best for them — but it all has to start with Antetokounmpo willing to forcefully push his way out.

Antetokounmpo being traded still feels more like something that will happen in the offseason, when roster size limits are expanded and the concerns of the luxury tax aprons are less pressing. However, if the Bucks stumble further down in the East while Antetokounmpo is out injured, that dynamic could change.

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Al Horford admits he needs to ‘be better' amid early struggles with Warriors

Al Horford admits he needs to ‘be better' amid early struggles with Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors veteran center Al Horford recognizes he has fallen short since his arrival to the Bay Area. 

In an exclusive interview with The Athletic’s Nick Friedell, the 39-year-old big man reflected on his first two months as a part of Golden State, which he joined in late September on a multi-year contract.

The 19-year NBA veteran’s self-assessment? Harsh yet honest and accurate. 

“I’m not where I want to be,” Horford told Friedell on Thursday. “I would say I haven’t been very good. I understand that there’s a lot of work ahead of me, there’s more that I need to do, and I need to be better, and I feel like I will. But right now, I’m not where I want to be.”

To say that Horford’s adjustment to the Warriors has been less than ideal is an understatement. 

The former All-Star and NBA champion, who won’t play back-to-back games this season, only has featured in 13 games for Golden State, averaging career-lows of 5.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in 21.5 minutes. 

On Thursday against the Philadelphia 76ers, Horford returned after missing two weeks due to sciatica.

“It’s not so much frustrating,” Horford told Friedell. “It’s just that there are a lot of different circumstances going on. Whether it’s injury, missing time away from the team, there’s a lot of factors, and there’s no excuses, but I take all of this first part with a hint of salt, and I know that I will be better. So I know that I will be better.”

Outside of adjusting to a new system, injuries and playing for a team based west of the Great Plains, Horford and his wife, Amelia, recently welcomed their sixth child. 

It has been a whirlwind, but Horford knows exactly what parts of his game he has to improve on. 

“For me, it’s continuing to figure everything out defensively,” Horford added to Friedell. “So being more of a support on the defensive end. And then on offense, getting more comfortable in spots so I can impact the team. 

“Being able to get to the right spots to shoot the three, and just giving the team more on the offensive end. Whether it’s setting screens, getting guys open, things like that. That’s always something that I’m going to continue to try to be better at.”

Horford made his first start of the season in the Warriors’ 99-98 loss to the 76ers. 

And although his performance wasn’t the most convincing, it’s a step in the right direction for the veteran, especially during a time in which an injury-riddled Warriors could benefit from the brand of basketball that has kept Horford in the league for nearly two decades.

“That’s always been my mindset,” Horford told Friedell. “And I understand it, but right now the team needs me. We need to be a little better, and this is a part of it; it’s a part of the journey. But in my mind, I know where I need to be when that time comes.”

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Canadiens To Take Part In 2026 Heritage Classic

Earlier this week, news that the Winnipeg Jets would host the Montreal Canadiens at Princess Auto Stadium on October 25, 2026, leaked online after a post on the Jets’ official website announced the event, only to be taken down. Clearly, the league wasn’t ready to announce the news, but it is indeed happening.

It’s been quite a few years since the Canadiens played outdoors. The last time they did it was in the league’s NHL 100 Classic back in 2017 when they took on the Ottawa Senators at Lansdowne Park. In front of 33,959 fans, the Habs were shut out 3-0 by the Sens. The temperature at puck drop was minus eleven Celsius, and it got colder as the game went on. Montreal was outshot 38-28 and could only win 29% of the faceoffs. Carey Price, who was making his 10th consecutive start, played well, but he couldn’t score any goals.

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The Habs’ performance was a stark contrast with the 2016 Winter Classic in Foxboro, where the visiting Canadiens beat the Boston Bruins 5-1. Brendan Gallagher was one of the stars of the game, putting up a goal and an assist in what was his return to action after missing 17 games because of two broken fingers, which needed surgery. Paul Byron (2), David Desharnais, and Max Pacioretty had scored the other goals, but it was the then 23-year-old who had sparked the Habs to life. Even more impressive was the fact that the Canadiens were without star goalie Price and that Mike Condon, a Holliston, Massachusetts native, was manning the net.

At the Canadiens’ practice on Friday, the winger was asked about the upcoming Heritage Classic by RDS’ Luc Gelinas and was surprised to hear about it:

Awesome, it will be nice and warm, he said with a big grin, before adding: That’s great, that’s a lot of fun. I still remember those games, some of the most fun hockey games; it reminds you of your childhood experiences, so I’m excited for these guys to experience it.
- Gallagher on the upcoming Heritage Classic

The veteran also recalled that when the Canadiens played the first Heritage Classic in Edmonton in 2003, he had tickets to the game, but his dad decided he should go with his team to Fort McMurray to play their game rather than go watch. His team had won by 15 or 16 goals; I’m not sure they needed us there. He laughed it off, adding that his decision might have been motivated by the extreme cold that day.

The game was held to commemorate the Edmonton Oilers' 25th anniversary in the NHL and the 20th anniversary of their first Stanley Cup win, in front of 57,167 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. In a polar-temperature game, the Habs won a 4-3 thriller in which Jose Theodore saved 34 of 37 shots and famously wore a toque over his mask.

Eight years later, the Sainte-Flanelle took on the Calgary Flames at McMahon Stadium in Alberta and were shut out 4-0 by Mikka Kiprusoff. Funnily enough, soon-to-be Hab Rene Bourque had scored two of the four goals while Alex Tanguay, a former Hab, also scored.

The Canadiens have a 2-2-0 record in outdoor games and will be hoping to win a third match in Winnipeg next October. One has to wonder if the NHL will ever give the Habs a chance to play an outdoor home game, but for now, they’ll have to make do with being the road warriors.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

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Charlton’s match against Portsmouth abandoned after supporter’s death

  • Supporter had been taken ill during first half at Valley

  • Clubs pay tribute after fan passes away in hospital

A Charlton supporter has died after being taken ill during the club’s abandoned Championship fixture against Portsmouth. The fan was treated by medical staff in the stands before being taken to hospital, but it was later confirmed the person had died.

The 12.30pm kick-off was paused in the 12th minute, when the score was goalless, after the referee Matthew Donohue was made aware of the severity of the incident in the lower tier of the Covered End by supporters who shouted to attract his attention. The match official then took the players off the pitch six minutes later. It was announced at 1.30pm that play would not resume.

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Steve Kerr shares what Warriors need from Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski

Steve Kerr shares what Warriors need from Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

On the first night of a Midwest back-to-back, the Warriors will be down several key contributors — namely stars Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green — against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Without those steady veterans, coach Steve Kerr needs a big night from Golden State’s second timeline, particularly two players who have struggled lately: Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski. Before Saturday’s matchup in Cleveland, Kerr detailed some areas he needs to see improvement from that young duo.

“Well, JK, it’s always run the floor, take care of the ball — the turnovers have been an issue lately,” Kerr told reporters. “So I’m really urging him to get up the floor instead of, you know, holding back in the backcourt and asking for the ball. I want him to be the first guy down the floor, not the last. And I think that’s been an issue the last few games. I don’t think he’s running the floor that well.”

Kuminga had a strong start to the 2025-26 NBA season but hasn’t looked quite like himself since returning from a seven-game absence due to bilateral knee tendinitis.

Podziemski, on the other hand, has been thrust into a larger role while Curry is out with a quad contusion. But in Thursday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, Podziemski was a team-worst minus-20 in just under 20 minutes, while third-string point guard Pat Spencer was a team-best plus-17 in 24 minutes.

“And then with Brandin, he’s got to get off the ball early,” Kerr continued. “When he gets into trouble is when he tries too hard to make plays on his own, instead of doing what he does best, which is to move the ball and be part of a five-man group that is really executing.

“That’s why Pat has closed these last couple of games and played most of the fourth quarters, if not all, because he’s doing that. So Brandin needs to get back to just focusing on the things he does best.”

With Golden State missing practically all of their veterans on Saturday, Kerr needs Kuminga and Podziemski to return to form to have any chance at taking down a talented Cavaliers squad on the road.

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This Blackhawks Big Move Is A Clear Home Run

The Chicago Blackhawks have been one of the NHL's most pleasant surprises this season. After entering the season expected to be among the bottom NHL clubs again, the Blackhawks instead have a 12-9-6 record and are fifth in the Central Division.

One major reason for the Blackhawks having such a solid start to the season has been the incredible play of goaltender Spencer Knight. In 19 games so far this campaign, the 2019 first-round pick has recorded a 9-5-5 record, a .919 save percentage, and a 2.44 goals-against average. With numbers like these, he is well on his way to having a breakout season for the Blackhawks. 

Knight is only continuing to shine as this season continues, too. During his most recent start against the Los Angeles Kings on Dec. 4, he saved 26 out of 27 shots in Chicago's 2-1 win. With this, there is no question that the young goalie is impressing. 

With the way Knight has been playing for the Blackhawks, it is clear Chicago's decision to acquire him from the Florida Panthers in the Seth Jones trade is looking like a home run. Knight is proving that he can be an impactful NHL starting goaltender, and he should be a huge part of Chicago's roster as they look to continue to head into the right direction. 

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Which Central Division Team Is Under The Most Pressure To Go All The Way?

The NHL’s Central Division is proving to be the toughest in the league, with three teams at the top – the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild – that are the top four teams in the entire league.

The Avalanche have the NHL’s top record at 19-2-6, while the Stars are just behind them with the league’s second-best record at 19-5-5, and the Wild are fourth overall at 15-8-5. Those three teams are not separated by much, and the Avs, Stars and Wild are all well on their way to locking up a Stanley Cup playoff spot.

However, if the question is “which of these three teams is under the most pressure to translate their hot start into playoff success?” in this writer’s point of view, it's the Stars.

First, we have to acknowledge some other truths. For starters, it’s clear the Avalanche have absolutely gone all-in this season, and they couldn’t have asked for a better start – including their 8-1-1 record in their past 10 games. We did pick Colorado as our Stanley Cup pick, and we haven’t seen anything to change our minds.

Meanwhile, Minnesota has also gone 8-1-1 in its past 10 games, getting arguably the best goaltending from its tandem of rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson. And Minnesota’s mix of young and old talent has been effective in a way we have to give them credit for. 

Now that the Avalanche and Wild have gotten their flowers, we’re going to tell you why we believe the Stars are under the most pressure in this division.

Ross Colton and Justin Hryckowian (Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images)

That discussion starts with the terrible luck they’ve had this week with injuries – specifically, veteran center Tyler Seguin, who is projected to be out for the season after getting hurt Tuesday in a game against the New York Rangers. 

With Seguin now sidelined potentially until next season, there’s a major hole in Dallas’ lineup, and it can’t be easily filled, even if there were several above-average forwards on the trade block, which there isn't.

The Stars are built to win now, but in the Jamie Benn and Seguin Era that began in 2013-14, Dallas hasn’t been able to put it all together and win a Cup. 

Yes, the Stars advanced to the Cup final against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019-20, and made it to the Western Conference final for the past three seasons. But success in the third and fourth rounds has eluded the Stars.

Four Best Long Shots To Win The NHL's Eastern And Western ConferenceFour Best Long Shots To Win The NHL's Eastern And Western ConferenceThe Ottawa Senators and Minnesota Wild among the NHL squads that are long shots to advance to the Stanley Cup final, but can they pull it off?

If Dallas does take a step backward and lose in the first or second round this season,  Stars GM Jim Nill might need to take a long, hard look at changing things up in the hope they’ll find the right championship mix. And that's if he signs another contract with the team, as he's in the final year of his deal.

Now, the beauty of where Dallas is at the moment is that, by-and-large, the Stars can be a playoff team and a legitimate Cup threat for many years to come.

With youngsters like center Wyatt Johnston, defenseman Thomas Harley and center Mavrik Bourque, you’ve got a foundation you can rely on for many seasons, including this one.

Even goaltender Jake Oettinger, defenseman Miro Heiskanen, and left winger Jason Robertson are just 26 years old, and Mikko Rantanen and Roope Hintz are 29 years old. So there’s no sense that this Stars team will crumble into dust anytime soon.

That said, there are also Stars that need success sometime soon. Dallas captain Benn is 36 years old, center Matt Duchene is 34, and center Seguin is 33, although, has won a Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011.

Nonetheless, time is of the essence right now. And that sense that Father Time is counting down on some key veterans is only increasing.

Don’t get it twisted – if the Avalanche get knocked out of the post-season in the first or second round, there could be significant changes for them next summer, same goes for the Wild.

But Nill has built his Stars team to win right away. So, in the coming weeks and months, the Stars must continue to deliver positive results, or Dallas may suffer consequences that Minnesota or Colorado may avoid.

Predicting The NHL's Central Division Rankings In 2025-26Predicting The NHL's Central Division Rankings In 2025-26The NHL’s Central Division is super competitive. We’re predicting how it will end up by April.

The Stars’ lineup is the envy of many teams. But there’s an attendant pressure on Dallas that comes with having so many talented players. That’s why the Stars are under the most amount of pressure to stick the landing and win their first Cup since the 1998-99 campaign.

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NHL Rumors: Penguins Have Interesting Potential Sabres Target

The Pittsburgh Penguins have had a nice start to the 2025-26 season. After entering the campaign expected by many to be among the worst teams in the NHL, they have started the year with a 14-7-5 record. With this, they are currently third in the Metropolitan Division standings. 

If the Penguins continue to stay on the right side of the standings and are in a playoff spot near the deadline, it would be understandable if they looked to add to their roster. One specific area they could look to improve in this scenario is the left side of their defense. 

Because of this, one player whom the Penguins should seriously consider pursuing is Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram.

If the Penguins landed Byram, he would instantly give the left side of their top four a major boost. Furthermore, he would also provide the Penguins another option to work with for both their power play and penalty kill if acquired. 

Byram also stands out as a potential fit for the Penguins because he is still young at 24 years old. Thus, he could work well on a retooling club like Pittsburgh if brought in. 

In 28 games so far this season with the Sabres, Byram has posted six goals, seven assists, 13 points, and 34 blocks. 

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Why Russell Westbrook is ‘GOAT' point guard to Kings rookie Nique Clifford

Why Russell Westbrook is ‘GOAT' point guard to Kings rookie Nique Clifford originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Programming note: Watch the full “Conversations with Deuce & Mo” interview with Nique Clifford, debuting at 4 p.m. PT Saturday on NBC Sports California

Nique Clifford, as a rookie, already is playing with one of his favorite NBA players of all time.

After Kings point guard Russell Westbrook racked up his 204th career triple-double in Sacramento’s win over the Golden State Warriors earlier this month, Clifford joined NBC Sports California’s “Kings Postgame Live” and revealed that Westbrook is his top-three point guard in NBA history.

But in speaking to NBC Sports California’s Deuce Mason and Morgan Ragan on a recent “Conversations with Deuce & Mo,” Clifford clarified his stance on that ranking.

“It’s debatable. You can put Magic [Johnson] and Steph [Curry] in there, of course,” Clifford said. “But honestly, Westbrook has always been my G.O.A.T. for point guard my whole life. It’s just the way he impacts the game from all levels. He plays hard, his passion. He’s always been my No. 1 point guard. But you can argue Steph and Magic, of course.”

Clifford has stated on multiple occasions that Westbrook has been one of his “favorite players” growing up.

Now, Clifford gets to spend his rookie season — and Year 18 for Westbrook — being teammates with one of his idols.

The young rookie shared what has surprised him most since playing alongside the former league MVP.

“The fact that he’s still doing what he’s doing. Like how old is he? He’s been doing it so long and he’s still got that burst to him,” Clifford said. “He still has that same passionate energy and competitiveness. That’s been super impressive. Just as a teammate, he’s been a great dude to learn from. Seeing how he approaches it every day. Real professional.

“And always has the same energy and smile that you see when he’s playing. That’s who he is off the court, too. It’s been real cool to be a part of that and play with one of my favorite players of all time.”

The Kings traded a protected 2027 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder to move up in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft and secure Clifford at No. 24 overall.

Clifford has shown flashes of his potential in a small sample size thus far, averaging 4.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 19 minutes through 10 games this season.

Playing alongside several established veterans, including Westbrook, Clifford is in good hands in Year 1.

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ICYMI in Mets Land: Hot stove arms race appears to be heating up

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Friday, in case you missed it...

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Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal: Premier League – as it happened

Emi Buendia kept his head amidst chaotic penalty box scenes to win a throughly entertaining game with the final kick and move his side up to second place

1 min: Arsenal launch the ball forward down the right flank, win a throw-in and then concede a free-kick. From near the corner flag, Emi Martinez wellies the ball upfield as hard as he can.

1 min: Arsenal get the ball rolling in what could be a thrilling game, their players wearing white shirts, with burgundy shorts and socks. Villa are in their usual home colours.

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